Gordon Gault: Murder-accused, 17, searched web for news of his alleged victim

A teenager accused of murdering a 14-year-old boy in a group attack made internet searches about the victim afterwards, a court has heard.

Gordon Gault died in hospital six days after being fatally stabbed with a machete in Newcastle in November 2022.

Six youths, aged 16-18, deny murdering Gordon and wounding another youth.

Newcastle Crown Court has heard that the attacks were part of a feud between rival groups of youths in "tit-for-tat violence".

Two of the defendants, aged 16 and 17, cannot be identified. The remaining four, all aged 18, are:

Prosecutors said dozens of Google searches had been made on the 17-year-old defendant's iPhone in the days after the 9 November stabbings.

They included searching news websites for stories about Gordon and questions about prison sentences for wounding someone or having a knife.

Searches were also made about intensive care, how long it took "before they unplug life support" and how to know if police were hacking a mobile phone, the court heard.

The youth initially told police he had "no involvement" in the incident, but later said he had been with his friends who started to fight another group but he had left the scene.

He said he made the various searches as the stabbing had been "widely spread news" in the area and he was "just wondering if Gordon would survive".

The youth also said he searched about the sentences for carrying knives because he knew someone who had carried one and was "just wondering about it".

The boy, who answered "no comment" to the majority of police questions also said rap lyrics found on his phone which discussed the stabbing had been "misinterpreted".

Prosecutor Christopher Moran said online orders for two machetes were found on a phone belonging to Lawson Natty, with the weapons sent after a picture of Mr Natty's father's passport was provided as ID.

The court heard the machetes were delivered to Mr Natty's home on 8 and 9 November and were the same make and brand as those recovered from foliage near the scene of the attack several months after Gordon's death.

Mr Natty's father said he did not use the internet for shopping, had no knowledge of the orders and had not given permission for anyone to use his passport.

The court heard Mr Natty was arrested at his home on 13 January and told police in a prepared statement he was "not responsible" and "had no involvement" in the attack.

He then answered "no comment" to all police questions across two interviews, the court heard.

The 16-year-old defendant, who cannot be named, was arrested in South Shields on 9 November and answered "no comment" to all questions.

When he was re-arrested and while on his way to the police station for further questioning in June, the boy told officers he was "innocent" and a "victim", adding that he and Gordon had been "pals" from college.

Benedict Mbala was arrested in London in February 2023 and answered "no comment" to the vast majority of questions, except to say he had "some knowledge" of the Elswick park area where the stabbing occurred and he "did not carry knives".

He also said it was a coincidence he left Newcastle a few days after Gordon died, the court heard.

Carlos Neto was arrested at his school on 10 November having been reported missing the night before by his "worried" father, Mr Moran said.

He told police he did not know anything about the stabbings and then answered "no comment" to most questions.

Mr Neto did confirm he had been stabbed near a bowling alley in Newcastle on 22 October by unknown youths who attempted to steal his jacket, which left him needing stitches for injuries to his hip and buttocks.

Prosecutors had previously said that the attack on Gordon and a 17-year-old victim, who suffered a 20cm-long slash wound on his lower back, were in part revenge for the attack on Mr Neto.

Daniel Lacerda was arrested at his home on 25 November and told police he was "not responsible" for Gordon's death or the other victim's injuries and had not been present.

The court heard that two associates of Gordon tried to attack Mr Lacerda with knives at Gateshead College a week after the 14-year-old's death but Mr Lacerda was able to escape.

A teacher heard one of the attackers say "they wanted to stab him in retribution for the murder of their mate", Mr Moran told jurors.

In his interview with officers, Mr Lacerda told police he did not know why he had been targeted and was a "victim".

He then answered "no comment" to the rest of their questions.

The prosecution has closed its case and the defence is due to start on Thursday.

The trial continues.

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